• State Cabinet says resolution does not behove an Apex tribal org • Ao legislators ask Ao Senden to rethink and reconsider decision • Chuchuyimlang Village resolves to ‘disassociate from Ao Senden’ DIMAPUR, JANUARY 10 (MExN): The Nagaland State Cabinet, along with the Ao legislators of the present Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Riongsanger Putu Tatar Salang (Village Council), Chuchuyimlang, and the NPF Mokokchung unit have asked the Ao Senden reconsider and rethink its decision to serve a quit notice to the Nagaland Minister for Highways, Nuklutoshi. The Nagaland State Cabinet, through a press note from the Chief Minsiter’s Office Lamented that the contents of the resolution do not “behove an apex tribal organization.” It pointed out that a Minister is a duly elected Member of the Legislative Assembly by the electorate and has taken oath under the Constitution of India. A joint statement issued by Ao legislators C Apok Jamir, Imtikumzuk, S Chuba Longkumer, Dr Benjongliba, Dr Longri, Merentoshi R Jamir, Dr Imtiwapang and Amenba Yaden, expressed shock that the Ao Senden resorted to using “unparliamentary words like so called Minister which demeans the status and office of a Minister.” The statement pointed out that it was not the decision of an individual Minister to conduct the elections to the Urban Local Bodies in Nagaland, but was the collective decision of the Government. “The Minister in charge of Mokokchung District was also discharging his duty in his official capacity and not acting in his personal interest,” it said. “While the relationship between the Legislators and the Civil Society Organisations like the Ao Senden has always been cordial and good where discussions and dialogues has always been the norm in resolving any issues in the past, the Ao Legislators fail to understand as to why in the present case the Ao Senden has taken such a hasty and harsh decision upon one of its bonafide member over an issue that pertains not only to one single community but to the entire people of Nagaland,” it stated. Meanwhile, a joint meeting held with the participation of Chuchuyimlang Senso Mongdang (Citizens Assembly) and the Riongsanger Putu Tatar Salang (Village Council), Chuchuyimlang resolved that “Chuchuyimlang Village and its citizens will remain disassociated from Ao Senden” till the Ao Senden conveys a “convincing response” as to why it served a quit notice to the Minister, who is a citizen of the village. A press note from the Riongsanger Putu Tatar Salang, Chuchuyimlang Village stated that all citizens of Chuchuyimlang Village “in no uncertain terms reject and condemn the ultimatum issued by Ao Senden to our bona-fide citizen, Nuklutoshi.” It demanded that the Ao Senden issue a response within three-days from the issue of this letter. Till then, it informed that no citizen of Chuchuyimlang Village will participate in any activity of Ao Senden; the Minister will not leave Ao territory and cautioned that if any untoward incident takes place involving the Minister, the entire responsibility will rest with Ao Senden. The Mokokchung Unit of the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) also denounced the quit notice served to the Minister and appealed to the Ao Senden to revoke the same at the earliest. “As all government employees are duty bound to serve and follow the instructions of the government, the Minister who is in charge of Mokokchung district is duty bound,” it stated. The NPF Mokokchung also said it finds no justification in singling out the Minister “when all government machineries are operative to conduct the ULB elections.”
